Kingston Harbour Walk Segment 2 design contract signed at Carib Cement facility

KINGSTON — The Urban Development Corporation on Wednesday signed a consultancy contract for feasibility studies and detailed designs for Segment 2 of the Kingston Harbour Walk, advancing plans for a continuous, climate-resilient waterfront from downtown Kingston to Port Royal.

The ceremony was held at the Caribbean Cement Company Limited staff sports club and wellness centre. Prime Minister Dr. the Most Honourable Andrew Holness, UDC Chairman Norman Brown, Caribbean Development Bank representative Dr. Orande Small, and Carib Cement Managing Director Jorge Martinez were among those present.

Segment 2 covers roughly 10 kilometres from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade to Harbour View. Financing for the assignment comes from the Government of Jamaica and the Caribbean Development Bank. Dr. Small said the CDB is supporting the work with a US$1.4 million grant from its Special Development Fund, with contributions from Italy and the European Union through the CARE programme.

The full harbour walk is planned at about 25 kilometres. CDB estimates the Raytown-to-Harbour View stretch will directly benefit some 32,000 residents and bring wider gains to more than 660,000 people in the Kingston metropolitan area.

Brown said Kingston Harbour — the world’s seventh-largest natural harbour — has long been underused and exposed to climate risk. He noted that Phase 1 is already under way through the Kingston Waterfront Improvement Project, led by the UDC with the Jamaica Social Investment Fund and World Bank financing. Future phases are to extend along the Palisadoes to historic Port Royal.

The joint venture of City Forest, Felix and Aqua Antara will handle shoreline characterisation, hydrographic and urban studies, stakeholder analysis, environmental and social impact assessments, climate risk work, engineering investigations, detailed design, and construction cost estimates.

Holness said Jamaica had treated the harbour “like our backyard” instead of a front yard, and that Hurricane Melissa showed the country must rebuild better than before. He urged consultants to deliver designs that are iconic, functional, cost-effective and embraced by communities along the corridor, including fisherfolk, businesses and residences.

He also linked the waterfront push to wider works: Sir Florizel Glasspole Boulevard under the SPARK 2 programme covering 35 corridors at $25 billion; upgrades from the airport roundabout into Port Royal; and existing Port Royal investments including a cruise pier, arrival facilities, museum and restaurant, sewer plant and water mains. Jamaica is bidding to co-host the 2031 Women’s World Cup, with national stadium complex works hoped to start in 2027.

Martinez pledged Carib Cement’s long-term support for the corridor serving Rockfort, Harbour View and the wider Kingston waterfront. UDC General Manager Robert Honeyghan recalled that a harbour walk concept featured in national planning as far back as 1968 under then Finance and Planning Minister Edward Seaga.